Former Forfar teacher jailed over child porn

A shamed former Forfar teacher has been jailed today (Wednesday) after being found guilty of possessing child pornography.

Robert Lightband, who taught history at Forfar Academy in the 1970s, was sentenced to jail for 145 days, now has a seven-year sexual offences prevention order with numerous conditions and was placed on the sex offender’s register for seven years.

The 69-year-old, who lives in Clepington Road, Dundee, was caught downloading indecent images over the course of a nine month period in 2014 and 2015.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard he had downloaded six indecent images and 2000 concerning images over that time frame.

Lightband pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of taking or making indecent photographs of children between June 16, 2014 and February 25, 2015.

The indecent images were discovered when Lightband took his computer to be fixed after it contracted a virus.

Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson said: “Search terms were found by the technician relating to paedophile groups.

“Police were called and when interviewed Lightband fully admitted downloading the images.

“He also admitted purchasing a pornographic paedophilic novel.

“He said he was attracted to boys aged 12 years and up.

“Six indecent images were found as well as 2000 concerning images featuring boys in swimming costumes and shorts.”

John Boyle, defending Lightband, said: “He is honest enough to admit these offences are committed due to a sexual interest in young boys and that treatment is unlikely to change that.

“There are stringent conditions that could be imposed on him in the community.”

He was also convicted in 2002 of possessing a folder filled with images of nude young boys, resulting in his dismissal from a senior teaching role at Menzieshill High School in Dundee.

A semi-retired organist, organ consultant and organ teacher, Lightband also lost his position as Dundee’s official organist following his conviction.

Handing down sentence Sheriff Alistair Carmichael said: “It seems to me there would be little or no point in imposing a community payback order due to the attitude you have expressed.